Written question asked by Lord Stunell (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 5 December 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 17 December 2001. It was answered by Brian Wilson (Labour) on Monday, 17 December 2001 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what financial contribution BNFL will make towards the decommissioning of (a) THORP and (b) the Sellafield MOX plant; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: Mr. Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial contribution BNFL will make towards the decommissioning of (a) Thorp and (b) the Sellafield MOX plant; and if she will make a statement. [22114] Mr. Wilson: As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry indicated in her statement to the House on 28 November, the Government intend that a Liabilities Management Authority (LMA) will take on responsibility for the UK's historic public sector civil nuclear liabilities and the associated assets including funds earmarked by BNFL for decommissioning and clean-up. It is important that Sellafield continues to be managed as a unified site. Therefore once the LMA is established, ownership of both Thorp and the Sellafield MOX plant will transfer from BNFL to the LMA. The expectation is that the commercial revenues from these plants will be sufficient to fund their decommissioning costs.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 377 c105W; 22114
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Decommissioning British Nuclear Fuels Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Nuclear power stations THORP Sellafield Mixed oxide fuel
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk